Walton and Fisher share V8 Utes spoils

Kris Walton and Andrew Fisher enjoyed visits to the top step of the podium following two eventful V8 Utes Racing Series contests at Sandown.

Polesitter Walton bogged down at the start of Race 1 allowing Kim Jane to assume the lead which he held until the Safety Car was deployed on lap 4.

The race was neutralised when side-to-side contact between Leigh Nicolaou and Mason Barbera saw the latter fire into the back straight barriers at high speed.

As the field reacted to the circumstances, Walton managed to sneak by Jane before reaching the next marshals post where the Safety Car boards were displayed.

Due to the severity of the Barbera incident, the race ended under the Safety Car after seven laps with Walton taking the victory from Jane and Nathan Pretty.

Barbera was transferred to the nearby the Prince Alfred Hospital with suspected fractured ribs.

The Queenslander, who briefly lost consciousness in the crash, will spend the night in hospital for assessment.

Adam Marjoram finished fourth in the incident packed race which saw the Erebus Motorsport Academy driver push Craig Dontas into a spin on the opening lap.

Adam Beechey was fifth ahead of Ryal Harris, Andrew Fisher, Gerard McLeod and George Miedecke.

Debutant Ben Grice finished 11th from 23rd on the grid, while fellow rookie Todd Halewood trundled home a lowly 23rd after mid race contact.

It proved to be a difficult day for title hopeful David Sieders as he was involved in contact at Turn 9 that saw drop down the order before recovering to 14th position.

McLeod led Miedecke for the majority of the reverse grid second race until lap 11 when the latter locked his brakes and hit the rear of the race leader at Turn 9.

The contact allowed Fisher through to the lead from third position to score victory from McLeod who swiftly recovered from the contact.

Harris came through to claim third ahead of Pretty, Miedecke, Marjoram and Dontas.

Race 1 winner Walton and been involved in a battle with Marjoram before he speared off the road at Turn 6 and subsequently retired with a broken radiator.

Fisher will start from pole position in Sunday’s third race which is due to begin at 1145 (local time).

Result: V8 Utes Racing Series Race 1, Sandown

Result: V8 Utes Racing Series Race 2, Sandown